The Sounds of Slavery: Discovering African American History through Songs, Sermons, and Speech

Through vivid anecdotes and firsthand accounts, White and White expand our historical ear from the 1700s through the 1850s, showing how profoundly slaves shaped the American soundscape. The Sounds of Slavery allows us to eavesdrop on the past, providing a fascinating, innovative, and accessible account of the aural dimension of slavery.

"A fascinating book . . . that brings to life the historical soundscape of 18th- and 19th-century African Americans at work, play, rest, and prayer . . . This remarkable achievement demands a place in every collection on African American and U.S. history and folklife. Highly recommended."
—Library Journal

"The Sounds of Slavery will not only be valuable to young scholars, but . . . to young performers and composers, especially with the explosion of interest in 'roots music,' looking for new sources of original and searing music."
—Ran Blake, Christian Science Monitor

"Highly recommended."
—Michael Russert, Multicultural Review

"A work of great originality and insight."
—Ira Berlin, Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland

"Shane White and Graham White's book is a joy."
—Branford Marsalis

Shane White and Graham White, who are not related, are professor and honorary associate, respectively, in the history department at the University of Sydney, Australia. They are the coauthors of Stylin': African American Expressive Culture, from Its Beginning to the Zoot Suit